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Synthesis of bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzothiadiazole scaffold donor-acceptor polymers: studies of polymerization, electrical, optical, and photovoltaic properties

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Abstract

Facile and efficient synthesis of conjugated donor-acceptor polymers via direct C-H arylation polymerization has received significant interest in organic electronic applications. We report here a one-pot synthesis of a series of bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzothiadiazole-based donor-acceptor polymers P1-4 via direct C-H arylation polymerization in excellent yield. Two donor moieties [3-hexylthiophene and 1,4-bis(dodecyloxy)benzene], and one acceptor unit 4,7-bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole were used for direct C-H arylation polymerization. The prowess of the methodology was applied to synthesis of polymer by adding one donor unit followed by a second donor unit after the due course. The resulting polymers are soluble and characterized. Optical and electrochemical properties were carried out by UV-Vis-NIR and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. A temperature-dependent absorption of the polymer films blended with PC71BM was studied for photovoltaic application. Devices were fabricated by solution-processable deposition of active layer and a PCE of 3.82% was achieved.

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Acknowledgements

A. M. acknowledges Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India, for her fellowship. This work is financially supported by Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi, India and CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Materials and Devices Metrology Division, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Anamika Mishra, Sonal Gupta & Asit Patra

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India

    Anamika Mishra, Sonal Gupta & Asit Patra

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  1. Anamika Mishra
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Mishra, A., Gupta, S. & Patra, A. Synthesis of bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzothiadiazole scaffold donor-acceptor polymers: studies of polymerization, electrical, optical, and photovoltaic properties. Polym. Bull. 80, 10015–10029 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-022-04535-1

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